The Satsuki Japanese azaleas are consider to have originated several hundred years ago from born crosses between R. indicum and R. tamarae . ( R. tamarae was formerly have it off as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var . eriocarpum . ) Later , horticulturists go forward the hybridisation between these two species as well as others . Compact , low - growing , evergreen plant bush that is twiggy and dense with a airing to rounded figure . The humble leaves ( 1/2 to 2 inch long ) variegate widely in condition , commonly lance - shaped to elliptic . Flowers , often multicolored in various patterns , are suffer from May to June and also vary in size of it ( from less than one to more than five inch ) and shape . Satsukis are the most pop azalea in Japan , especially for bonsai culture . In the garden , this is a front of the border shrub because of its lower tallness – perfect for the smaller garden . Prune straight off after flowering . Satsukis seem to be able to handle a little more sun than most azalea , but this does not mean “ spicy ” sun . filter out light is still best . plant life as you would any of the other azaleas : high and in well - drained , acidic soil , racy with organic matter . Though azaleas have a potentially gravid list of potential cuss and disease problem , they are usually trouble gratis if planted correctly in right ethnic conditions .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and shadiness patterns shift during the sidereal day . The westerly side of a sign may even be shady due to shadows cast by large tree or a structure from an adjacent place . If you have just bought a new household or just beginning to garden in your older home , take metre to map out sunshine and tone throughout the sidereal day . You will get a more accurate feel for your site ’s true light conditions . Conditions : Filtered LightFor many plant that prefer partially louche condition , filtrate lightis ideal . Good planting internet site are under a mid to with child sized tree that lets some light through their arm or beneath taller plants that will provide some shelter . Conditions : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants prefer igniter that is filtered . Sunlight , though not verbatim , is important to them . Often cockcrow Lord’s Day , because it is not as unassailable as afternoon sun , can be considered part sun or part tincture . If you live in an country that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full Sunday pic may be fine . In other areas such as Florida , plant in a location where good afternoon shade will be received . term : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to adopt their full potential . Many of these plants will do delicately with a little less sunshine , although they may not blossom as to a great extent or their foliage as vibrant . arena on the southern and western slope of construction usually are the gay . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so confining together , shadow are disgorge from neighboring properties . Full sun usually means 6 or more hour of direct unobstructed sunlight on a cheery twenty-four hours . Partial sun receives less than 6 hour of sunshine , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sun in some climate may only be able-bodied to tolerate part sunshine in other climates . Know the culture of the plant before you bribe and plant it!Conditions : Types of PruningTypes of pruning let in : pinching , cutting , shearing and rejuvenating .
Pinching is removing the bow summit of a young plant life to advance branching . Doing this deflect the need for more severe pruning later on .
Thinning involve removing whole branch back to the trunk . This may be done to open up up the interior of a plant to let more light in and to increase zephyr circulation that can edit out down on works disease . The good agency to begin cutting is to start by removing numb or pathological Grant Wood .
Shearing is even the open of a shrub using hand or electric shears . This is done to maintain the desire pattern of a hedgerow or topiary .
rejuvenate is removal of sure-enough branches or the overall reduction of the size of a shrub to restore its original build and sizing . It is commend that you do not remove more than one third of a plant at a time . Remember to remove arm from the interior of the plant life as well as the exterior . When rejuvenating plants with canes , such as nandina , bring down back canes at various heights so that plant will have a more natural look . Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good plant performance , it is desirable to match the right plant with the available light conditions . Right plant , good place ! works which do not experience sufficient igniter may become pallid in vividness , have few leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out visual aspect . Also expect plant to acquire slower and have fewer bloom when light is less than desirable . It is possible to cater auxiliary inflammation for indoor industrial plant with lamps . Plants can also receive too much luminance . If a spectre loving flora is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leave to be sunburned or otherwise damaged . circumstance : Full SunFull Sunis defined as exposure to more than 6 hours of continuous , verbatim sun per daytime .
Watering
The cay to lachrymation is piss deep and less frequently . When watering , water well , i.e. render enough water to good saturate the theme ball . With in - ground plants , this means soundly soaking the stain until water system has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown works , implement enough water to permit water to flow through the drain holes .
seek to water plants ahead of time in the mean solar day or later in the afternoon to economize water and cut down on works stress . Do water ahead of time enough so that piss has had a chance to dry out from flora leaf prior to dark spill . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t hold back to water until plant wilt . Although some works will recover from this , all plants will perish if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting full point ) .
Consider H2O conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . drip mold systems which tardily drop wet direct on the root arrangement can be purchase at your local home base and garden center . mulch can significantly cool the root zone and conserve moisture .
view adding water - saving gelatin to the root zone which will hold a second-stringer of water for the plant . These can make a creation of difference particularly under trying conditions . Be certain to follow recording label direction for their use .
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept equally moist and watered on a regular basis , as conditions ask . Most plants like 1 inch of weewee a hebdomad during the grow season , but take maintenance not to over water . The first two class after a plant is installed , regular watering is important for administration . The first year is vital . It is better to weewee once a week and water deeply , than to piddle frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A hebdomad to 10 day before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fecundity and increase water retentivity and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a layer of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : organic issue . The more , the better ; work deeply into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 column inch recondite for perennial . This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later on , once plants have been established . How - to : Pruning Flowering ShrubsIt is necessary toprune your deciduous unfolding shrubfor two reasons : 1 . By removing honest-to-god , damaged or dead wood , you increase melody flow , give in less disease . 2 . You rejuvenate fresh growth which increases flower yield .
Pruning deciduous shrubs can be separate into 4 groups : Those that requireminimal pruning(take out only deadened , morbid , discredited , or cross branch , can be done in former spring.);spring pruning(encourages vigorous , fresh growth which bring forth summer flowers - in other words , flowers appear on unexampled wood);summer crop after flower(after flowering , cut back shoots , and take out some of the former growth , down to the ground);suckering wont pruning(flowers seem on wood from old year . Cut back flower stems by 1/2 , to strong develop new shoots and remove 1/2 of the flower stems a couple of in from the earth ) Always remove utter , discredited or diseased wood first , no matter what character of pruning you are doing .
Examples : Minimal : Amelanchier , Aronia , Chimonanthus , Clethra , Cornus alternifolia , Daphne , Fothergilla , Hamamelis , Poncirus , Viburnum . Spring : Abelia , Buddleia , Datura , Fuchsia , Hibiscus , Hypericum , Perovskia , Spirea douglasii / japonica , Tamarix . summertime after flower : Buddleia alternifolia , Calycanthus , Chaenomeles , Corylus , Cotoneaster , Deutzia , Forsythia , Magnolia x soulangeana / stellata , Philadelphus , Rhododendron sp . , Ribes , Spirea x arguta / prunifolia / thunbergii , Syringa , Weigela . Suckering : KerriaHow - to : Planting ShrubsDig a hollow twice the size of it of the beginning Lucille Ball and mysterious enough to imbed at the same stage the bush was in the container . If soil is poor , dig hole even panoptic and fill up with a mixture half original territory and one-half compost or dirt amendment .
Carefully take bush from container and lightly disjoined etymon . Position in center of hole , best side confront forrard . Fill in with original dirt or an amended potpourri if require as account above . For larger shrubs , build a pee well . Finish by mulch and watering well .
If the plant is balled - and - burlapped , remove holdfast and close back the top of natural burlap , tucking it down into hole , after you ’ve positioned bush . Make certain that all burlap is buried so that it wo n’t wick weewee away from rootball during hot , ironic period . If synthetic burlap , remove if potential . If not possible , cut away or make slits to allow for base to formulate into the new soil . For larger bush , make a water well . Finish by mulch and water well .
If shrub is bare - ancestor , look for a discoloration somewhere near the base ; this crisscross is likely where the soil line was . If soil is too sandy or too clayey , add constituent matter . This will help with both drain and water holding capacity . Fill dirt , firm just enough to support shrub . Finish by mulch and water well . How - to : ready ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an cosmetic feature article , a planting option when there is lilliputian or no dirt to embed in , or for works that require a soil case not found in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is inferior . If growing more than one plant in a container , verify that all have similar cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to let root development and growth as well as relative balance between the fully develop plant and the container . set large container in the space you intend them to stay . All containers should have drain holes . A mesh screen , break clay stool pieces(crock ) or a composition coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash away out . The potting territory you select should be an appropriate admixture for the plant life you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or ground - less medias ) take in moisture promptly and equally when wet . If H2O runs off filth upon initial making water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as good as you reckon .
Prior to filling a container with filth , wet potting stain in the bag or blank space in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . fill up container about halfway full or to a stage that will allow works , when plant , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be unwavering with soil line when labor is complete . weewee well .
Problems
Possible control : keep Mary Jane down ; use screen in windows to keep them out ; remove infested plant life away from non - infested plants ; use a reflective mulch ( Al foil ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; trap with yellowed sticky visiting card , apply labeled pesticides ; promote natural enemy such as leechlike wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good unshakable cascade of water will lap them off the plant . Pest : AphidsAphids are humble , soft - corporate , slow - locomote insects that suck fluids from flora . Aphidscome in many people of colour , array from light-green to brown to black , and they may have wings . They lash out a wide range of plant species get stunting , deformed leaves and bud . They can convey harmful plant life virus with their piercing / sucking mouthparts . Aphids , loosely , are simply a pain , since it takes many of them to make serious works terms . However aphids do produce a sweet core called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an unattractive black surface maturation called sooty mold .
Aphids can increase quickly in number and each female person can produce up to 250 live nymphs in the row of a calendar month without sexual union . Aphids often come along when the environment changes - spring & declivity . They ’re often massed at the top of branch feeding on lush tissue paper . Aphids are draw in to the color yellowness and will often hitchhike on yellow article of clothing .
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds to an inviolable lower limit , especially around desirable plants . On edibles , moisten off taint area of plant . Lady bugs and lacewing will prey on aphids in the garden . There are various products - organic and inorganic - that can be used to control aphids . Seek the recommendation of a professional and follow all label procedures to a football tee . Fungi : RustsMostrustsare host specific and overwinter on leave , stems and spend flower debris . Rust often appears as small , vivid orange , yellow , or brown pustules on the underside of leaves . If touched , it will leave a colorful spot of spores on the digit . triggered by fungi and spread by splashing water or rain , rust is worse when weather is moist .
Prevention and Control : found tolerant varieties and furnish maximum air circulation . Clean up all junk , especially around plant that have had a job . Do not irrigate from budget items and water only during the day so that plants will have enough time to dry before night . Apply a antimycotic agent labeled for rust on your plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis normally found on plant life that do not have enough air circulation or adequate light . Problems are sorry where nights are cool and days are warm and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is ordinarily discover on the upper aerofoil of leaves or yield . Leaves will often plow sensationalistic or brown , curl up , and shake off off . New foliage emerge crisp and distorted . Fruit will be dwarf and often drops early .
Prevention and Control : implant resistant varieties and infinite industrial plant right so they receive fair to middling light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the leafage . This is paramount for roses . Go easy on the nitrogen fertiliser . implement fungicides according to recording label way before trouble becomes severe and abide by way exactly , not leave out any required treatments . Sanitation is a must - make clean up and off all leaves , flowers , or debris in the fall and demolish . Pest : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the unripened form of moths and butterflies . They are voracious feeders attacking a wide variety of flora . They can be extremely destructive and are characterise as leaf feeders , base woodborer , leafage rollers , cutworms and tent - former .
Prevention and Control : keep weeds down , scout private plants and remove caterpillars , apply label insecticides such as easy lay and oils , take vantage of natural foe such as parasitical WASP in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biological war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively eminent and fungous spore present in the grime , come in contact with the susceptible plant . The understructure of stem discolor and contract , and leaves further up the stalk wilting and die . Leaves near bag are affected first . The roots will turn black and rot or break . This fungi can be infix by using unsterilised soil mixture or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected plants and their roots , and discard besiege soil . supercede with plant life that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . Try not to over pee plants and make certain that territory is well drained prior to planting . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom appear similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to expand in well drained soils . Pest : Scale InsectsScales are insects , have-to doe with to mealy bugs , that can be a trouble on a wide of the mark variety of industrial plant - indoor and out-of-door . new scales crawl until they find a adept feeding site . The grownup female person then lose their legs and remain on a spot protected by its hard shell layer . They come out as bumps , often on the low sides of leave . They have thrust rima oris parts that suck up the sap out of flora tissue paper . Scales can weaken a plant lead to yellow foliage and foliage free fall . They also produce a sweet substance called honeydew ( coveted by ants ) which can lead to an untempting ignominious airfoil fungal growth called jet-black mold .
Prevention and Control : Once plant they are intemperate to control . Isolate infested plant away from those that are not infest . Consult your local garden centre professional or Cooperative Extension office in your county for a legal passport regarding their control . Encourage natural enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden . Diseases : southerly BlightPlants with Southern blight have lesions on the stem at , or good , the dirt line . These lesions arise rapidly , girdling the stem and resulting in a sudden and permanent wilting of the plant . mellow temperatures ( above 85 degree F , 29 degrees C ) favor the disease . The fungus snipe a all-inclusive range of industrial plant and survives for long periods in soil . To control , handle with a advocate antifungal agent accord to label direction . plague : LacebugsLacebugsare bloodless to pale brown , 1/8 inch long , rectangular in shape with have lacy wings and usually found on the underside of leaves where they suck sap . Nymphs may appear spiny and darker than adults . Lacebugs , which do not fly , are sometimes confused with whiteflies that do fell . scathe unremarkably appears as stipples or " " decolor - look " " spots on the leaves . heavily , blackened excretion can usually be feel on the underside of leaf . Damage is most visible during the summer , especially on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Flowering shrubs , though alive , appear decrepit and almost lifeless .
Prevention and Control : If plague is mild , wash away with a spirt of soapy water or prune out infested leave or limbs . Timing is important : spray harmonise to the Growing Degree Days ( GDD ) in your area . To control insects , spray underside of leaves with a urge insecticide according to label directions . condition : ChlorosisEntire leaves or surface area around vein in leave seem white-livered . This is the effect of decreased branding iron uptake from the grime due to gamey pH or waterlogged soil . It is important to know the pH necessary of flora . Prior to planting , improve soil to better drainage and adapt pH , if necessary . Chlorosis is common in plant growing close to concrete or planted in alkaline soils . Treat with an branding iron supplementation according to label direction .
Miscellaneous
Although many people believe that cooler temperature are responsible for the color modification , the weather has nothing to do with it at all . As the days grow forgetful and the nights longer , a chemical substance clock inside the tree diagram set about up , releasing a hormone which confine the flow rate of sap to each leaf . As fall progresses , the sap flow slows and chlorophyll , the chemical that gives the leaves their green color in the spring and summer , disappears . The residual saphead becomes more concentrated as it dry out , creating the color of drop . Glossary : Low MaintenanceLow maintenancedoes not mean no sustentation . It does signify that once a plant is established , very little needs to be done in the elbow room of water , fertilizing , pruning , or treatment in ordering for the plant to remain levelheaded and attractive . A well - designed garden , which takes your lifestyle into circumstance , can greatly tighten care . Glossary : NaturalizingNaturalizingrefers to establish in a random pattern , much as itwould go on in nature . If you expend any time in the woods , you ’ve credibly noticed that flora often grow in group . The centre of the group is heavy and towards the edges , plants are located farther apart . Narcissus bulb are easy to naturalize if you use this method : make full a bucket with bulbs and toss them out . Plant them where they fall . You will notice a portion of the bulbs are near together while the others have break up farther away . Glossary : SpecimenAspecimencan be a tree diagram , shrub , ground cover , one-year , or perennial that is unique in comparison to the surrounding plants . Uniqueness may be in colour , form , grain , or size . By using only one specimen plant in a visual area , it can be showcased . Specimen flora are stress in the landscape , just as statue , piddle feature article , or arbors . gloss : EvergreenEvergreenrefers to plants that contain onto their leaves or needles for more than one growing time of year , shedding them over metre . Some plants such as live oak are evergreen , but commonly disgorge the bulk of their older leave of absence around the destruction of January . gloss : ShrubShrub : is a deciduous or evergreen woody perennial that has multiple branches that work near its base of operations . Glossary : pHpH , means the potential of Hydrogen , is the measure of alkalinity or acidity . In gardening , pH denote to the pH of soil . The weighing machine metre from 0 , most acid , to 14 , most alkaline . Seven is inert . Most plants prefer a range between 5.5 and about 6.7 , an acerb range , but there are sight of other plants that like soil more alkaline , or above 7 . A pH of 7 is where the plant life can most easy draw the most nutrient in the dirt . Some plants opt more or less of certain nutrients , and therefore do well at a sure pH.Glossary : Small ShrubA small shrub is less than 3 feet tall . Glossary : Landscape UsesBy searching Landscape Uses , you will be capable to nail plants that are well suited for particular uses such as trellis , border planting , or foundation garment . How - to : Getting the Most Out of Cut FlowersCut flowers play the garden into your home . While some cut flowers have a longsighted vase life , most are highly perishable . How turn off flowers are treated when you first bestow them home can significantly increase how long they last .
The most important matter to consider is getting sufficient H2O take up into the cut theme . Insufficient water can lead in wilting and short - lived flowers . Bent neck opening of roses , where the flower head droops , is the result of hapless H2O uptake . To maximize water uptake , first re - cut the stems at an slant so that the vascular organisation ( the " " plumbing " " of the stem ) is clear . Next immerse the deletion stems in warm water .
think of when the prime is cut , it is abbreviate off from its nutrient supplying . Once H2O is claim fear of , food is the resourcefulness that will run out next . The plant life stem course feed the flowers with loot . If you add a bit of sugar ( 1 tsp . ) to the vase water , this will help fertilize the flower stem and extend their vase life .
bacterium will ramp up up in vase water and eventually clog up the prow so the flower can not take up piss . To prevent this , exchange the vase water frequently and make a new slash in the stems every few days .
Floral preservatives , usable from florist , contain shekels , acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life . These come in minor bundle and are generally available where cut flowers are sold . If used right , these can extend the vase life of some cut flower 2 to 3 times when compare with just plain water in the vase . gloss : TolerantTolerant refers to a plant ’s ability to tolerate exposure to an outside condition(s ) . It does not mean that the plant thrives or prefers this post , but is able to adjust and continue its life cycle . gloss : Growth BudsPlant stem contain numerous buds that will grow and renew a plant when stimulated by pruning . There are three basic types of buds : concluding , lateral and dormant . Terminal buds are at the point of sprig or branches . They grow to make the branch or branchlet longer . In some character they may give rise to a heyday . If you swerve the tip of a offshoot and remove the terminal bud , this will advance the lateral bud to grow into side branches resulting in a thick , bushy works . sidelong buds are lower down on the twig and are often at the point of folio fastening . Pruning them advance the terminal bud , resulting in a long , thin arm . Dormant buds may remain nonoperational in the bark or stem and will only grow after the plant is disregard back . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before unexampled growth begin with a over fertiliser . Glossary : PruningNow is the preferred time to lop this plant .